Graduate Internship Program Overview & Position Types

Mission

The goal of MICA's Graduate Internship Program is to provide our MFA candidates, as developing professionals, the opportunity to take on technical and pedagogical roles within our institution, and thereby to learn from real world experiences typical of teachers and leaders in contemporary academic communities. In coordinating the placement of graduates in these many roles, the Graduate Internship Program supports aspects of curriculum development, tool maintenance and safety, and undergraduate pedagogy. While these internships greatly enrich the students' graduate school experience and better prepare them for post-graduate professional life, MICA also awards stipends to the interns in recognition of the knowledge, skill, and time they contribute.

Though the mission is to prepare students earning a terminal degree to teach at the college level, MICA's GIP has always welcomed and supported all graduate students.

Types of Graduate Internship Positions

Graduate Teaching Intern (GTI)

A graduate student in the role of GTI works in an undergraduate course under the supervision of the faculty member and, using the Possible Progression for a Graduate Teaching Internship, gains valuable teaching experience. Faculty act as mentors to GTIs, supporting graduate students in the development of professional practices necessary for college level instruction in visual art and design.

It is highly recommended that GTIs take the course, Philosophy and Pedagogy of Post-secondary Visual Arts Education. (For graduate students wishing to earn the Certificate in the College Teaching of Art, this course is required.)

As interns in the undergraduate courses, GTIs are expected to be present for every class meeting, and to collaborate with the mentoring instructor, working no more than an average of five hours per week.

GTIs receive a stipend of $770 per internship per semester.

Graduate Technical Assistant (GTA)

A graduate student in the role of GTA works as a technical advisor in instructional support settings. These graduate students do not plan or implement instruction of any kind.

As technical assistants, GTAs are expected to tutor students in the use and maintenance of tools and materials, working no more than an average of five hours per week.

GTAs receive a stipend of $770 per internship per semester.

Policy

The following policies are in place to enable equal access to GTI and GTA positions.

Students are eligible to apply for two GTIs per semester or 1 GTI and 1 GTA per semester while enrolled full-time in their degree program. These will be filled on a first come first awarded basis. No student may do more than two GTI/GTAs per semester.

Students may not GTI for any course in which they are also enrolled as a student.

All undergraduates courses are eligible to have one GTI each. Note two special situations:

GTI positions in study abroad summer intensives are at the discretion of the Coordinator.

GTI positions in the May intensives will depend on funds available, as these occur at the end of the fiscal year.

Graduate-level courses are not eligible to have GTIs.

There is only one GTI permitted per undergraduate class.

For one semester of their first year, graduate students electing to GTI must do so in a foundation course, or 100-level course, or Black & White Photo I. Note: GD MFA students are exempt from this requirement.

All GTIs and GTAs will be paid a $770 stipend for 75 hours of work per semester, usually five hours per week for 15 weeks.

Undergraduates may be hired ONLY for Sculptural Forms, and ONLY if a graduate student has not filled the position by the beginning of the semester.

At the August Graduate Student Orientation (or whenever the Graduate Studies Office recommends) students will sign an agreement stating that they understand the published Graduate Internship Program policies. The signed agreement will stand for the duration of the student's enrollment in the graduate program.

Application Process

The Coordinator provides a list of available GTI and GTA positions to graduate students the week before the first class meetings of the semester.

Graduate students contact faculty to ask for an interview.

Faculty interview interested graduate students, and faculty decide with whom they would like to work.

Once a faculty and graduate student have agreed to work with one another, the graduate student completes the online application—no later than the 14th day of the semester. Any students not submitting an application by the 14th day, will not have their position approved, and therefore will not be paid.

The student visits Human Resources to complete I-9's and tax forms on or before their 3rd day of work according to federal tax and immigration laws. Students who have not submitted these forms on or before their 3rd day of work will not be paid.

The Coordinator reviews all online applications and approves viable applications for payment processing.